Ergonomic steering handle
Inventors
Altshuler, Gregory • Yaroslavsky, Ilya • Boutoussov, Dmitri • ANDREEVA, Viktoriya • Traxer, Olivier • Barenboym, Michael • Ostrovsky, Isaac • KOVALENKO, Anastasiya
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12303655-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
Catheter steering handles that are ergonomically designed to enable an operator to reduce hand fatigue. Various ergonomic aspects of the disclosed steering handles include geometries that more naturally conform to the palm of the hand and that enable the hand to be held in a natural, low stress posture during operation of the steering handle. In another aspect of the disclosure, the catheter steering handle is configured so that the operator can release or partially release the grip on the handle, thereby enabling the operator to relax and flex the hand, thereby reducing fatigue.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a catheter steering handle configured to reduce hand fatigue during operation of a catheter. The catheter steering handle includes a housing having a handle axis that is curvilinear and a head portion and a base portion separated along the handle axis. The housing defines a mid-plane coplanar with the handle axis, and the mid-plane passes through a forward side and a rearward side of the housing.
A transition portion at a junction between the body portion and the head portion defines a catch on the forward side of the housing at the mid-plane. The catch defines a hook profile configured for insertion of a phalange of a hand of a user, where the hook profile is formed by a protrusion extending forward from the head portion and partially over the body portion. At least a portion of the protrusion provides a finger rest, and a thumb lever is articulated with a thumb to steer the catheter.
Operating instructions are provided on a tangible, non-transitory medium, instructing grasping the body portion between the palm and phalanges with a first phalange disposed within the catch. After steering by articulating the thumb lever, the hand is relaxed or opened so the catch passes over the first phalange and the catheter steering handle hangs from the first phalange. In one refinement, a concave/convex palm-conforming geometry is provided with concave faces and convex faces arranged to rest on a user’s palm when grasped, and balance may be equalized by vertical alignment of a center of gravity below the engaged phalange and/or an electrically connected cable arranged to equalize balance.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides one independent claim covering a fatigue-relief method for operating a catheter steering handle. Main inventive features include an ergonomically configured catch/hook engaging a user phalange at a mid-plane, thumb-lever steering with subsequent hand relaxation to let the handle hang from the engaged phalange, and providing operating instructions on a tangible, non-transitory medium.
Hanging catch on mid-plane for phalange engagement
A housing defining a mid-plane coplanar with a curvilinear handle axis, with a transition portion defining a catch on the forward side at the mid-plane; the catch defines a hook profile configured for insertion of a phalange, formed by a protrusion extending forward and partially over the body portion, with at least a portion of the protrusion providing a finger rest.
Thumb lever steering with relaxed/open-hand hang-off
Operating instructions directing the user to grasp the body portion between a palm and phalanges with a first phalange disposed within the catch; to articulate a thumb lever with a thumb to steer the catheter; and to relax or open the hand so the catch passes over the first phalange and the catheter steering handle hangs from the first of the phalanges.
Operating instructions on a tangible non-transitory medium
Providing operating instructions on a tangible, non-transitory medium, the operating instructions including grasping, thumb-lever steering, and relaxing/opening the hand to release the body portion while maintaining phalange engagement so the handle hangs from the phalanges.
Overall claim coverage centers on a catheter steering handle whose mid-plane catch/hook engages a user phalange to support hanging during relaxed/open-hand states, combined with thumb-lever steering and operating instructions on a tangible, non-transitory medium.
Stated Advantages
Relieves hand fatigue while operating a catheter steering handle.
Documented Applications
A method of relieving hand fatigue while operating a catheter steering handle by engaging a phalange with a catch/hook, steering via a thumb lever, and relaxing/opening the hand so the handle hangs from the engaged phalange.
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